Vehicle-platform gear



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. H. HOLMA'N.

I VEHICLE PLATFORM GEAR. No. 342,695. v Patented May 25, 1886.

VGITNESSES: glggntrom 0 zwm BY ATTORNEYS.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. H. HOLMAN.

VEHICLE PLATFORM GEAR.

- Patented May 25,1886.

N rnzns Phnha-Lilhugmphur. Wahinglun, Li a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. HOLMAN, OF NEWARK, OHIO.

VEHICLE-PLATFORM GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,695, dated May 25,1886.

Application filed March 30, 1886. Serial No. 197,131.

Vehicle-Platform Gear, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to the construction ofplatform-gears forspring-vehicles, the object of the invention being to do away with therear cross-springs, and to provide a safe, durable, and effectivefastening for the ends of the springs; and to this end the inventionconsists of certain novel constructions and arrangements of the parts tobe hereinafter explained, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved platform-gear, a portion of thefront bar being cut away to disclose the construction of the parts. Fig.2 is a sectional side view of the same, taken on line or x of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3/ y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is aplan view of a modified construction, and Fig. 5 is a sectional viewtaken on line 2 z of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 ofthe drawings, A represents the aide, to which the two side springs, B B,are secured in the ordinary manner by the axle-clips a a, the springsbeing first attached to the pillow-blocks b b. The ends of the mainleaves .0 of the springs B B are formed with eyes 43 i, which restwithin hollow tubes at d,that are-longitudinally slotted to permit thesprings to enter them, said springs being slid in from the ends of thetubes, as will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings.The central springs, G O, are also formed with eyes i, which fit snuglywithin the forward tube, d, the ends of the springs being placed towardthe center of the bar, as shown in Fig. 1,while the eyes i i, at therear of the springs G G, are large enough to be slipped over the reareyes of the springs B B, and in this case the tube (1 is slipped overthe rear eyes of both sets of springs. After the springs B B and C O andthe tubes (1 d have been placed in the posithreaded to engage.

(No model.)

tions indicated, trussrods 6 e are passed through the centers of thetubes, and thence through the spring-eyes, thus'affording an additionalsupport for the springs, besides strengthening the tubes dd, whichconstitute the front and rear bars of the platform. The truss-rods e eare held in place by the boltheads f f, which they carry at one end, andthe nuts 9 g, with which their other ends are The shaft or' pole clips hh are secured directly .upon the tube d, as shown in Fig. 1; or, ifdesired, awooden bolster, is, may be placed above the front bar, asshown in Fig. 2. The clips h h clamp the edges of the tube together andhold the springs B B in place, the spring 0 0 being held by clips Z Z,as shown. The rear ends of the spring are clamped in place by clips m m,which may be formed with a downwardlyprojeeting arm, n, which carries astep, 0. A frame consisting of two spring-bars, p p, and a head-block,q, is secured to the central springs by clips 1' r, a wear-plate, 8,formed of the spring-bar plates 8 s and their connecting-web, whichrests on the top of the head block, being preferably placed beneath theclips. This frame constitutes the bed for the fifth-wheel D, theking-bolt passing through the aperture it, formed in the center of thewear-plate.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a construction wherein the rear baror tube, (1', is entirely dispensed with, the overlapping ends of thesprings B B and G 0 being united by bolts n, and a further change hasbeen made in the construction referred to by omitting the forward tube,d,and substituting therefor a wooden bar, 0', that is curved downwardtoward the center and supported by an iron truss, p, the forward ends ofthe springs being held by shackles q, and this construction I findparticularly well adapted for all except very heavy wagons.

Platforms constructed in accordance with the terms of my invention doaway with the rear cross-spring, which has always been a source of verygreat annoyance.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 4. and 5 is particularly welladapted for use as arear platform-spring, there being no cross-bar,andwhen so used it will of course be understood that the fifth-wheel wouldbe dispensed with and a cross-bar substituted therefor, and it will alsobe understood that when used as a rear platform-spring the forwardcross-bar could be dispensed with, in which case the forward ends of thesprings would be attached directly to shackles carried by the sills ofthe wagon-body, which arrangement produces a neat substantial rearplatform-spring. The peculiar W formation of the platform prevents theplatform from getting out of square, as each spring serves as a bracefor the others.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, isy 1. A platform spring wherein the outersprings slope inward to the rear and the inner springs slope outward toengage with the rear ends of the outer springs, the forward ends of eachset of springs being carried by a crossbar common to both sets.

2. The eombinatiomwith an axle, of springs B B and O 0 carriedthereby,the forward ends of said springs being supported by a crossbarcommon to each set, while the rear ends 6. In a spring-platform, thecombination'of 0 the following elements: axle, springs B B and C 0,tubes d d. bars 0 e, and clips, as described, and a fifth-wheelsupporting-frame, substantially as described.

7. A spring-platform wherein the forward ends of the side andcentralsprings are formed with eyes which rest within a slotted tube,through which and the eyes there is passed a bar, 6, and wherein therear ends of the central springs are formed with eyes which fit over therear eyes of the side springs,the eyes of both springs being held by arod, as e, sub stantially as described.

THOMAS H. HOLM AN.

Witnesses:

L. BRADY HARRIS, A. M. STEWART.

